Consider Approval of Five (5) Year Curbside Recycling Contract with ACE Solid Waste, Inc.

State Statute (Chapter 115A Waste Management) requires that residents, including both single family and multifamily residences, have the opportunity to recycle, which means having access to either a recycling drop-off center or curbside collection of recyclables.  Additionally, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners annually establishes recycling goals for each municipality, which is typically the equivalent of recycling 175 pounds per person. The County allocates SCORE (Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment) funding to the municipalities to assist them in meeting their tonnage goal. Each municipality must enter into a recycling agreement with the County, which specifies certain program requirements, to be eligible to receive this funding. The main components of that agreement include:
• Ensuring that each household (including multi-tenant units) has the opportunity to recycle at least four broad types of materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal.
• The recycling program must be operated in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
• The City must implement a public information program that contains at least the following components: • The City must submit semiannual reports to the County detailing the quantity of materials recycled through curbside collection, recycling events etc.
• The City must submit semiannual reports to the County detailing all expenditures and revenues associated with recycling activities.

Ramsey has historically satisfied the State requirement with a contract for curbside collection of residentially generated recyclables.  The City's current contract for residential curbside recycling services with ACE Solid Waste, Inc., is set to expire on December 31, 2012. 

At the May 8, 2012 City Council Work Session, the City Council discussed various options with regard to residential recycling services, including negotiating a new contract with ACE Solid Waste, Inc., drafting a Request for Proposals for residential recycling services for City Council consideration, or shifting to an open hauling system.  Ultimately, Staff was directed to negotiate a new residential curbside recycling services contract with ACE Solid Waste and bring it back for consideration by the City Council.

Ramsey has worked hard over the last decade to improve it’s recycling program and under the current recycling contract (dating back to 2006), Ramsey has met its annual tonnage goal each year, has been recognized by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners as a Rethink Recycling Champion twice (2007 & 2008, which recognizes the efforts of a community that recycled the highest total pounds per person per year) and in 2006 was recognized as the most improved recycling program in Anoka County.  These accomplishments certainly reflect the recycling efforts of the residents but also the quality service that ACE Solid Waste has provided.

The proposed contract is for five (5) years, beginning January 1, 2013 and running through December 31, 2017. The monthly rate per household will remain at $2.95 throughout the duration of the contract, which is billed quarterly through the City's utility billing process (line item total of $8.85 every three [3] months). The proposed contract also includes language for renewing the contract at the City's option (subject to any mutually agreed contract amendments between ACE Solid Waste and the City).

City Staff recommends approving the proposed five (5) year residential curbside recycling services with ACE Solid Waste, Inc. 

Funding for Ramsey’s recycling program is provided by the state through the Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE). The state distributes the SCORE funding to each county and each county then allocates those monies in a way they believe will best address waste reduction, reuse and recycling. In Anoka County, each municipality receives a base of $10,000 plus $5.00 per household. In 2012, Ramsey’s allocation of SCORE monies is $50,165.00. 
Ramsey uses the SCORE dollars to cover expenses associated with the spring and fall recycling events, to promote waste reduction and recycling in the community, for educational outreach purposes and to reimburse salary expenses specifically related to recycling activities.

Motion to approve a five (5) year residential curbside recycling services contract with ACE Solid Waste, Inc., subject to review and approval as to legal form by the City Attorney.